Zoe

Ha! I know exactly what you mean! If you're ready to brave chicken again (and the dog lets you keep a piece for yourself), try dark meat, or just super-moist white, with sauces. Those plain broiled skinless chicken breasts that are a conventional dieter's constant companion are no fun for bandsters. Bandsters' dogs, that's a different story.

Welcome to Bandland! Married to a bandster, you were already an honorary citizen -- now it's official. I hope your recovery is quick and easy. Let us know how you're doing when you feel like writing. We're all cheering for you!

Thanks, Kelly!

Never mind the cigs -- I'm so glad to hear your dog is doing better. If you have a fairly large room and you want to indulge your hound's every whim, you can buy a ramp from a dog catalog like Drs. Foster & Smith so that he can still climb up on the bed without jumping. You are smoking so much less. Congratulations! Can you pick a day to go cold turkey for just 24 hours?

Oh, so that's where the big ass photo came from! Cool. But, DeLarla, I don't see that weight gain you talked about. You look way skinny.

Thanks, Sheila! I start a five-day course of steroids today. Like your sister, I had an epidural several years ago when I could barely move; it did help for a while. I like your yoga suggestion. I do need to increase my flexibility, so once I can move again, I think I'll check out a class at the nearby yoga center. I have two large friends who've found that yoga helped their arthritis.

Hey, if the steroids work, at least I can start walking again. The orthopedic guy has me on a five-day steroid burst; with luck, I can stop ASAP. Anyone else have weight-gain issues this week?

I would appreciate if we could keep this thread from being hijacked to a "weight gain challenge". This thread is for weight loss and those who are serious about the challenge. I'm sure all of those in this challenge will agree. -- La Madam on Weight Loss Challenge thread. I replied, "the mini-hijack was just for a few cheap laughs for those of us anticipating a rough week. To avoid offending the serious, we will move these comments to a new thread." So here it is. This is intended to be a thread where anyone can freely vent (I hope) about the challenges to weight loss. Disclaimer: If you do not want to read about people who are gaining weight, people who are worried about gaining weight, or people who may make jokes about gaining weight, do not read further. My vent: I've been losing weight steadily since my last fill, but after three weeks of immobility I'm starting a course of steroids for disc trouble. The steroids make me feel better, but I gain weight.

La Madam, the mini-hijack was just for a few cheap laughs for those of us anticipating a rough week. To avoid offending the serious, we will move these comments to a new thread. I'll start one, and anyone can follow: go to http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=5613

Good luck! I had all four out at once and got good drugs too; a friend and my brother picked me up from the oral surgeon's office (it took two people to keep me from crashing into walls) and apparently I had them cracking up, but I don't remember a second of it! I do remember hanging out with Ben & Jerry for several days afterward, though.

Love the new avatar, DeLarla! I am on a chocolate tear today, and I'm starting a week of steroids, so I might take you up on the weight-gain challenge this coming week. My ass is bigger than yours, nyah-nyah!

Don't mourn just yet. You might still be able to eat some or all of them. I just had a slice of pizza, and I have no trouble with most pasta. You can keep the Big Mac, though.

Congrats, Norma! What a great feeling! I know you've had reservations about the band; I'm glad you're getting a super fringe benefit.

Kristi, it might have been a disappointment not to get a fill, but your doctor's right. And you have the right attitude, not to mention a super weight loss so far! You might be one of the lucky bandsters who can lose weight for quite a while without a fill. Test those solid proteins slowly; most of us have at least one "problem" food that won't go down, and one junk food that is all too band-friendly. I nearly cried when the doc told me I should avoid steak. . . but, alas, my band has no problem with chocolate in any form. Some people have trouble with chicken, seafood, and eggs. Meanwhile, never mind the negative stuff -- you're doing great!

Paula's in Onederland! :banana I'm at 205.5 this morning... but I'm afraid I might be losing muscle instead of fat because my effing sciatica has kept me from exercising for three weeks. (Inner voice: "Shut up, Z., and be happy you lost! Now pull your socks up and quitcha bitchin.")

OK, I've had it. This *&%$ sciatica has kept me from walking (other than a few blocks) for three weeks now, and it's not getting much better. I am sick of lying around with a bag of frozen Beans on my back! (It's about as comfortable, not to mention exciting, as it sounds.) I had an L5-S1 laminotomy about eight years ago which was a total success, but in the last few years the L4-L5 disk has given me occasional grief. I don't want surgery again if I can help it, but I'm desperate. Chiropractic treatments have helped only a little. So, bandsters, have any of you with back & disc trouble tried VAX-D? Supposedly it places vacuum pressure on the disc -- a kind of traction -- to encourage the disc to go back where it belongs. Any reports, pro or con, welcome! Thanks. Gimpily yours, Z.

What a blast! You all look fantastic. Funny about Bruce Willis -- I think a lot of big-time actors are kind of short (by that I mean shorter than I am). Robert Redford, Al Pacino, even Paul Newman's supposedly a shrimp!

Vines, you had me laughing out loud at your Phobia Phactor post! I could handle the flan, but the Gap/mall would have me squealing in terror; sushi, OK, but not the dreaded FUGU. And Penni, if you can forget that you're surrounded by a film crew while you're naked, my hat's off to you. Maybe that's the wrong piece of clothing to mention. . .

Hi Sharon T -- I'm with you on this one. If there are other options, turn your back on these bozos. They sound unprofessional and immature. I guess I'm not surprised that the staff members have nicknames for patients, but I was appalled to learn that they laughed at them during an informational seminar. On the other hand, Jasper seems to have had a good experience with this doc. Can you get an appointment for a consultation with the surgeon himself or will all of your pre-surgical dealings be with the staff? I think it's worth checking the Inamed web site to find other choices if you don't feel comfortable. Good luck.

What Not to Wear? While I love the idea of getting advice and a whole new wardrobe, the possibility of undressing before a television camera at any weight makes me faint. I don't know what "The Amazing Race" is. Like Alex, I'm not reality show material. . . although if the BBC show "The Life Laundry" found me, I might overcome my reticence just to get rid of the bins of crap in my house. PS: Vines, the QueerEye guys never seem to venture outside the NYC area except for their UK specials. Call me crazy, but I don't think they'd drool at the chance to go to SE Idaho!

Whatever happens, good luck to you, Christina. I'm afraid I'm with Alexandra and Scotty on this one; from what I can see, reality shows turn the contestants into objects of mockery. The networks make a buck making fools out of people. I guess if you win, of course you can laugh all the way to the proverbial bank. It certainly wouldn't be my thing -- but with your acting background, this might be right for you. Have you had further thoughts about whether you'll get banded even if you don't go on the show?

I'm nearly 48 and I still leave stuff all over the house! Of course, it's not the same when you have to pick it up yourself. Even my dog went through a phase of herding all the shoes into a pile in the middle of the living room. She didn't chew them, just collect -- like the rest of my family. My one-month-old niece is the only one who might have hope of being organized.

Planting season will never be the same! Congrats, momoffour. Have a great weekend, everyone -- see you here on Monday!

That I looked like a tired old hooker? Seriously, I dyed my hair for years. But expensive salon or home bottle, it all looks cheap and fake on me, and it's way too high-maintenance. Brunette, every possible shade of red from burgundy to Ronald McDonald, highlights -- been there, done that. I have a great platinum wig, though!

The good news is that even if you put some of the water weight back on, you'll still be losing fat, whether the scale shows a difference or not. (That's one reason some of us notice a change in our shape even if our weight stays the same.) BTW, I noticed a difference after about 10 days; my face and ankles were thinner. I think that's pretty common. You are starting to shrink for real! Congrats, Caramel.